London's pensioners are at risk of losing their free travel on the Tube and rail networks as the annual cost of the Freedom Pass scheme balloons to a staggering £372 million. The perk, which allows older residents to travel for free across the capital's entire transport system, is now under formal review by the body that administers it.
Financial Strain Forces a Rethink
London Councils, the cross-party organisation representing the capital's 32 boroughs, has launched a review of the scheme due to severe financial pressures. The cost to local taxpayers is projected to rise by a further 11.8 per cent in 2026, with councils expected to fund more than 279 million free journeys from April this year.
This surge in expenditure comes as authorities face spending clampdowns in other critical areas like social care and special educational needs provision. Stephen Boon, chief operating officer at London Councils, stated that reducing the scope of the Freedom Pass could ease this financial pressure by approximately £148 million every year.
What Changes Are on the Table?
The review is considering several significant options to curb costs. The most dramatic would be to effectively turn the Freedom Pass into a bus-only pass, eliminating the free travel on the Underground, Overground, and other rail services. This would require Parliament to amend the Greater London Assembly Act 1999.
Other potential measures include raising the age of eligibility from the current state pension age of 66, or excluding national rail services within Greater London from the pass's remit. Currently, the pass's only restriction is on use during the morning rush hour.
Rising Costs and Wider Context
The escalating price tag is attributed to Freedom Pass holders taking more journeys and adjustments to how Elizabeth Line fares are calculated. Furthermore, Transport for London (TfL) will for the first time this year directly charge London Councils for the physical Oyster cards the passes are linked to, at £1.50 each for nearly 400,000 cards.
The separate 60+ London Oyster card, which offers off-peak free travel and is run by TfL, is also a factor. TfL writes off the revenue from these cards and is estimated to have lost £125 million in fares from 60 to 65-year-olds in 2025 alone, a figure predicted to hit £180 million by 2027.
The financial burden is not evenly spread. Some of London's wealthiest boroughs face sharp increases, with Richmond bracing for a 16.2 per cent rise in its contribution and Brent expecting its share to soar by over £2 million.
An Uncertain Future for a Cherished Perk
London's scheme remains one of the most generous in the UK, where many towns and cities only offer free off-peak bus travel. Mr Boon told a committee meeting that the Society of London Treasurers had "expressed concern about the growing cost" and that officers would work to identify other policy options to control future expenses.
With London Councils and TfL declining to comment on the ongoing review, millions of older Londoners now face an anxious wait to see if one of the capital's most valued benefits will be significantly scaled back.
